Photographic developing apparatus.



W. F. GARLAND. PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC-31, I912. RENEWED MAY 13.1918.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

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PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED DEC.31,19I2- RENEWED MAY 13.1918.

1,288,403. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

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WILLIAM F. GARLAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application filed December 31, 1912, Serial No. 739,463. Renewed Mayj13, 1918. Serial No. 234,342.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. GARLAND,

a citizen of the United States, residing at tographic Developing Apparatus, fully dedeveloping machine or apparatus.

scribed and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to a photographic The invention has been made especially with the idea of providing, and in some of its features relates especially to, a machine for developing the long narrow films which are used for making negatives or positives of the so-called moving pictures. Apparatus embodying the invention will also be adapted for developing other flexible films whose dimensions are large in both directions or for developing at one time a large number of smaller films, and apparatus embodying features of the invention may also be used for developing photographic plates and the so-called cut films, or stiff films, and for subjecting to the action of developing, fix-r ing and washing liquids the sensitized surfaces of other bodies.

The invention aims to provide a machine or apparatus of simple, cheap and compact construction whereby photographic films. and especially the long moving picture films,

.may be developed, fixed and washed. and

also dried if desired, efficiently and expeditiously and with a minimum amount of labor and attention and with the use of a minimum amount of the developing, fixing and washing liquids. The invention aims further to provide such a machine which does not require to be used in a light.- tight room, or, rather, a room from which all actinic light is excluded. and which, further.

. is of such constructionthat it maybe readily transported and is therefore, adapted for-outdoor or field work. The invention,

aims, further, to provide such a machine which may be used for developing photographic plates and cut films and the sensitized surfaces of other bodies. I

The word film as used herein is intended to include not only the transparent sheets of coated celluloid or other substance to which the term is usually applied and which are employed for making negatives or trans parent positives, but also, to include sheets or strips of paper or other flexible material having a coated or other sensitized surface. To the ends above pointed out, and with other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinations of parts of a complete organized machine for developing,- fixing, washing and drying photographic films and other sensitized bodies, and in parts or features of such machine, all as hereinbefore fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims.

As a full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detailed description of a machine embodying the various features of the invention in a preferred form, such a description will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings showing a complete portable developing ma- Fig. 2 is a view partly in'front elevation and partly in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

and

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a part herein-- ment, fixing and washing of the films is accomplished within a light-tight casing 10 which is shown as of cylindrical form and the lower part of which forms a tank for holding the developing, fixing and washing liquids during the time that the film is to be subjected to the action of such liquids and for holding other liquids to the action of which it may be desired to subject the film. This lower or tank portion 11 of the casing should for economy in the amount of liquid -required to be used be curved concentrically with the axis of rotation of the carrier drum whether the casing as a whole is of cylindrical form or not. Mounted to rotate within the casing is a skeleton drum or reel 12- for carrying the film. The drum is removably supported within the casing by means of brackets 13 extending from the end walls of the casing and formed to provide bearings for the end trunnions 14 of the drum. For removing the carrier drum a hand crank 16 adapted to have its shaft end placed through an opening in one of the end walls of the casing and to engage the end of one of the drum trunnions 14.

Suitable turning engagement may be secured by forming the crank shaft with a squared end as shown or other suitably shaped end to extend into a correspondingly shaped recess in the end of the drum trunnion. When the drum is to beremoved, the crank will be pulled out of engagement with the drum trunnion. Obviously, power operated driving connections might be provided for rotating the drum or other suitable means provided for manually rotating the drum.

The carrying drum or reel may be of any suitable construction, but to provide a light strong drum which may be easily handled,

I preferably make the drum of the construcbe attached to the drum w'hileit is in the machine, or may be wound on the drum by means of a suitable winding apparatus while the drum is removed from the machine and the loaded drum then placed in position -within the casing 10. The films will usually be wound on to the drum while dry.- The wetting of the films causes them. to .expand become displaced, and to avoid this it has.

- as shown madeof flat strips of wood or I when the film is being wound dry on the contracts.

. so that with a drum such as heretofore used'the film becomes'loose and liable to been customary heretofore to r'e-adjust the film to take up this slack.

' To avoid this difiiculty the drum in the construction hown is made With each alternate supporting rod 19 pivotally mounted on its radial arms 18 and extending from its pivotal axis in a direction circumferential of the drum so that it may swing on its pivotal axis in'a direction substantially radial of the drum, audit is spring pressed outward by springs 20. These spring:

pressed take-11 rods .or bars 19, which are also deslgnate by the" reference letter a, are

other suitable material and are limited in their mward movement by stops 21 so that drum the take-up rods will be held in their innermost osition so that the film may be wound un er even tension. These take-up rods will thus move outward automatically as the film' expands and inward as the film The developing liquid is supplied to the tank 1 1 from an levated tank 25 through a pipe 26 controlled by a .valve 27 and" a pipe 28 leading into one end of the tank 11. The tank 11 is emptied through a discharge pipe 29 leading from the bottom of the tank preferably at or near the other end from that at which the pipe 28 enters, the discharge pipebeing controlled by a valve 30. Fixing liquid is supplied to the tank 11 from an elevated tank 31 through apipe 32 which connects with the pipe 28 and is controlled by a valve 33. Water or other washing liquid is supplied from an elevated tank 34 through a pipe 35 connected with the pipe 28 and controlled by a valve"36. The tank 11 is provided with an overflow outlet 37 whichlimits the height of the liquid in the tank and also serves as a gage or indicator to show when the tank has been filled with the developing or other liquid to the desired level. In order toreduce the amount of liquid required in the tank 11, the carrying reel will usually be made of somewhat greater diameter proportionally to the size of the casing 10 than shown or be mounted so as to extend closer tothe bottom of the tank 11.

Beneath the tank 11 is a closed tank 40 which as shown extends upward about the tank 11 on each side somewhat beyond the line of the level of the liquid in the tank 11, but which need not be so extended, the upper side of this tank 40 being formed by the bottom of the tank 11. This tank 40 will preferably be made of considerable less relative capacity than shown, more especiall by having its bottom set closer to the bottom of the tank 11. This tank is intendedto be supplied with iced or otherwise cooled water or other liquid for cooling and maintaining a desired temperature of the developing liquid in the tank 11. A shown, the cold .water or other cooling liquid is supplied to the tank '40 from an elevatedtank 41 through a pipe 42 controlled'by a valve 43, and the tank is provided with an overflow outlet 44 so that by leaving the valve 43; more or less opened, a more rless rapidflow of water through the tank 40 may be maintained so that the suppl of water in the tank will be constantly renewed and the desired low temperature of .the water in the tank maintained. The tank is also provided with a discharge outlet 45. It is sometimes desirable to heat the developing chamber especially during the drying of the developed and fixed films, and for heating the chamber I providea gas burner 50 beneath the tank 40, or other suitable means for heating water in the tank 40. Theburner 50 may be inclosed in a suitable casing 51. Wh'en' the developing chamber is to be heated, the tank 40 will preferably be only partly filled with water, and the gas escaping from the burner tube 50 beingthen ignited the water in the tank 40 willbe heated to the boiling point or ,to the desired temperature and the botif to allow the fixing liquid to drain from the controlling device,

tom pontioncf the wall of the developing chamber or tank 11,. from which the washing water will have drained off, will be heated, thereby causing the air within the casing to be raised to a suitable temperature for drying the film on the drum more rapidly than it would be dried without such heating. Gas may be supplied to the burner from any suitable source and controlled in any suitable manner. As shown, gas is supplied through a tube 52 and is automatically controlled according to the pressure of the water in the chamber 40 by means of a valve which is controlled by a pressure operated or the gas supply might be otherwise automatically controlled.

In using the apparatus, the film having been applied to the drum and the drum being in position in the developing chamber and being rotated therein, the valve 27 is opened to allow developing liquid to flow into the tank 11 until it rises to the desired level. The rotation of the drum then continuing, the film is subjected to the action of the developing liquid for the proper length of time. At the end of the developing period the valve 30 is opened to allow the developing liquid to flow from the tank 11 and is then closed and a hypo solution or other fixing liquid is supplied to the tank 11 by opening the valve 33 until the desired amount of said liquid has entered thetank. The rotation of the drum continuing, the film is subjected to the action of the fixing liquid for the desired length of time at the end of which the valve 30 is again opened tank 11 and is then closed and water or other washing liquid is admitted to the tank by opening the valve 36. The rotation of the .drum is then continued for washing the film, and the washing water may be, and preferably should be, changed .several times by draining off the water. in the tank 11 and admitting fresh water during the washing of thefilm, or the water may be allowed to flow into the tank continuously and to escape through the overflow outlet 37, It the temperature in the room or other place where the apparatus is being used is such that the developing liquid; would be, or would tend to become during development, higher than is desirable, the tank 40 should be supplied with cold water or other cooling liquid from the tank 41 during the developing. If it is desired to wet the film before developing, this may obviously be done by admitting washing water to the developing tank and rotating the drum before the developer is admitted. The film may also be washed between developing and "fixing, if desired. By providing additional tanks connected to supply liquid to the tank 11, provision may readily be made for subjecting the film to the action of other liquids, such and its associated it may be removed from the developing chamber for drying, either by taking out the carrying drum with the film on it or by unwinding the film from the drum on to some other support, or the film may be dried on the drum in the developing chamber. When drying within the chamber the heating device may be put in operation to dry and heat the air in the developing chamber, the tank 40 preferably containing some water, but not being full during the heating operation as before explained and the tank 11 being emptied of liquid.

For further expediting the drying of the film, 1 provide the apparatus with means for causing a movement of air through the developing chamber as from an inlet opening 55 at one end of the casing to an outlet opening 56 at the other end of the casing. Any suitable means may be provided for causing the air to move through the casing, but I prefer to provide the radial arms 18 at one end of the carryingdrum with in clined fan blades 57, whereby a slow but sufficient movement of the air through the casing is effected by the rotation of the drum without the addition of other parts. The air inlet and outlet openings to the casing may be protected against the entrance of light in any suitable manner as by the elbowed pipes 58 and 59 respectively.

Asa further or alternative means for cooling the film during development, I may provide means for cooling the air entering the developing tank through the inlet opening 55, asby providing the air inlet pipe 58 with an enlarged upper end or hopper 60 in which ice may be placed to chill the air drawn through the pipe 58. A suitable screen, as indicated by dotted lines at 61, may be provided for preventing the ice from dropping down into the pipe 58, and a drip pipe 62 leading from the bottom of the pipe 58 discharges water which may flow down through the pipe 58 from the ice, the drip pipe being formed avith a trap as shown to provide a- Water seal to prevent the entrance of uncooled air through the drip pipe.

If the apparatus is to be used in a dark room, it may consist simply of the parts above described suitablymounted for convenience in operation, but in order to provide a complete developing machineor apparatus suitable for outside or .field work and which may be conveniently transported, I arrange in connection with the casing 10 parts, a light-tight booth for the operator from which access may be had to' the interior of the casing 10. The

booth may be arranged in various ways, but

the opening which is normally closed by the door 15 may be accessible from outside the booth for removing and placing the carrier drum in position. The casing is provided, further, with an opening 66 which is normally closed by a door 67 suitably arranged and through which opening access may be had to the interior of the casing from within the booth. This opening 66 should be large enough so as to permit the operator to fully observe the condition of the fihn on the drum and to manipulate photographic plates or cut films or other sensitized' bodies which it may be desired to develop, fix and wash in the tank 11. In order that the operator may controlfrpm within the booth the supply of developing, fixing and washing liquids to the tank 11, the valves 27 33 and 36 are arranged so that they may beoperated from within the booth, as by having a rod extend from each valve directly through the wall of the booth and provided on the inside with a hand wheel 68, as shown for one of the valves in Fig. 1. The valve 43 for controlling the supply of cold water to the tank 40 will also be arranged in the same Way or in other suitable manner for operation from within the booth, and each of these four valves will preferably also be provided with a hand wheel as shown to be turned from outside the booth or beotherwise suitably arranged to be operated from outsidethe booth. The valve 30 for controlling the discharge pipe 29 leading from the tank 11 will also be arranged to be operated from within the booth, as by means of a hand wheel 69 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, as well as being arranged to be operable fromthe outside.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement of parts in the machine shown in the drawings and to which the foregoing.

description has been largely confined, but

that it includes changes and modifications thereof within the claims. It will be understood, also, that parts. or features of the invention as claimed may be used independently of other parts or features of the invention, and in machines or apparatus differingwidely from that shown.

What is claimed is:

1. In a photographic developing machine, the combination of a tank, a carrier mounted in position to have the sensitized surface oi abody carried thereby acted upon by liquid in the tank, a casing for excluding light from the carrier and tank, a supply tank for developing liquid connected to supply said liquid to the first said tank, a supply tank for fixing liquid connected to supply said liquid to the first said tank, means forsupplying washing liquid to the first said tank, means for controlling the flow of each of said liquids to the first said tank, and means for discharging liquid from the first said tank.

2. In a photographic developing machine, the combination of a tank, a carrier, means for supporting the carrier in position to have the sensitized surface of a body carried "thereby acted upon by liquid in the tank, a casing for excluding lightfrom said tank, a light-tight operators booth, said casing having an opening for giving access to the carrier and tank from the operators booth and means for closing said opening and being provided with a normally closed opening for insertion and removal of the carrier from outside the booth, means for supplying separately to said tank developing liquid, fixing liquid and washing liquid, means for controlling the supply of said liquids to the tank from within the booth.

3. A photographic developing machine comprising in combination a tank, a casing inclosing the tank to provide a light-tight developing chamber, a carrier within the developing chamber, means for supplying.

separately to the tank developing liquid, fixing liquid and washing liquid, means for discharging liquid from the tank, a water tank adjacent to the under side of the developing tank, means for supplying cold water to said water tank to cool liquid in the first said tank, and means for heatingthe water in said water tank to warm the; air in the developing chamber.

4. A photographic developing machine comprising. in combination a tank, a casing inclosing the tank to provide a light-tight developing chamber, a carrier within the developing chamber, means for supplying separately to the tank developing liquid, fixing liquid and washing liquid, means jfor discharging liquid from the tank, a water tank adjacent to the under side of thegdeveloping tank, and automatically controlled heating means for heating the water intthe water tank. 1 5

5. A photographic developing machine comprisng in combination a tank, a casing inclosing said tank to provide a light-tight developing chamber, a carrier mounted within the tank in position to have the sensitized inclosing the tank to form a light-tight developing chamber, a carrier drum rotatably mounted Within the casing in position to carry films thereon through liquid in the tank, an air inlet at one end of the casing and an air outlet at the opposite end of the casing, and fan blades carried by the carrier drum set to cause a movement of air through the developing chamber when the drum is rotated.

7. A photographic developing machine comprising in combination a tank, a casing inclosing said tank to Provide a light-tight developing chamber, a carrier mounted to rotate Within the casing in position to carry the sensitized surface of a body thereon through liquid in the tank, and means for supplying cool air to the developing tank during development.

8. A photographic developing machine comprising in combination a tank, a casing inclosing said tank to provide a light-tight developing chamber, a carrier mounted to rotate Within the casing in position. to carry the sensitized surface of a body thereon through liquid in the tank, means for causing air to flow through the developing chamber, and means for cooling the air supplied to the developing chamber.

9. A photographic developing machine comprising in combination a tank, a casing inclosing said tank to provide a light-tight developing chamber, a carrier mounted to rotate Within the developing chamber in position to carry the sensitized surface of a body thereon through liquid in the tank, means for causing a cooling medium to act on the outside of said tank, and means for causing cool air to flow through the developing chamber.

tably mounted within the casing in position to carry films thereon through liquid in the tank, an air inlet at one end of the casing and an air outlet at the opposite end of the casing, fan blades. carried by the carrier drum set to cause a movement of air through the developing chamber When the drum is rotated, and a cooling chamber through which air' passes to the air inlet.

12. A photographic developing machine comprising in combination a tank, a. carrier mounted in position to carry the sensitized surface of a body thereon through liquid in the tank, a light-tight operators booth from Which the tank and carrier are accessible, means for supplying separately to said tank developing liquid, fixing, liquid and Wash- Witnesses.

- WILLIAM F. GARLAND.

Witnesses A. L. KENT, L. R. Fox.

ing liquid, and means for controlling the I 

